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Congresswomen Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA), along with Congressmen Scott Taylor (R-VA) and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), yesterday introduced House Resolution 257 (H.Res.257), which condemns ethnic, religious, and racial hate crimes. The resolution is the House companion to Senate Resolution 118 (S.Res.118), which passed unanimously on Thursday in the United States Senate.

“The rising wave of hatred, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism facing our nation is unacceptable,” said Dingell. “Threats against Mosques, Jewish Day Centers, and other religious institutions and gathering places have left communities scared, terrified and on edge. This is not who we are. I am proud to work with my friend Congresswoman Comstock to bring together our colleagues – Democrats and Republicans – to reject hate crimes against all members of our community. We cannot let fear divide us. We are all Americans, and there is far more that unites than divides us. We must be united in fighting hatred in all forms.” 

“Our diversity is what makes our country and our communities great and I’m pleased to join my friend and colleague, Rep. Debbie Dingell, in introducing this resolution,” said Comstock. “Our communities and law enforcement must remain vigilant about those who would perpetrate hate crimes, which divides our communities and strikes fear in any number of ethnic groups or religious minorities.  We stand united against such violence and discrimination, and encourage law enforcement at all levels to work together to curb these actions.” 

Background:

The House resolution, like its Senate companion, cites trends in violent incidents targeting Jewish, Muslim, African-American, Hindu, and Sikh communities. It also mentions the vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, bomb threats against Jewish community centers, and burning of mosques and Islamic centers.

The resolution calls on federal law enforcement, working with state and local officials, to investigate all credible reports of these occurrences in the United States, hold perpetrators accountable, and bring them to justice. You can read the full resolution here.